EAST LANSING, Mich. -
Michigan State head baseball coach Ted Mahan has announced that five players have signed National Letters of Intent to attend MSU next fall and play for the 2004 Spartan baseball team.

"With the signing of these five student-athletes, this is a very solid start to what I believe will be a great recruiting class," said MSU head coach Ted Mahan. "We've filled all our needs by signing three pitchers, two infielders and one catcher (Kovac is a pitcher/infielder). We're looking forward in working with this group and we feel they will be a very successful class for the future of Michigan State baseball."

Brookes will spend his third year on varsity in 2003 ... Has compiled a 33-3 high school and summer record with a 1.30 ERA ... Starting guard on the basketball team ... Also lettered in golf ... Honor roll all four years of high school ... Has a 3.3 GPA ... Plays for Coach Bill Seiple at Naperville High School.

Mahan on Brookes: "Craig is a right-handed pitcher who we feel has a chance to be very successful at Michigan State. In time, we feel like he will contribute a lot to our program. He's from a very good high school program in Naperville, Ill., and we're glad to add him to our pitching staff."

Hahn collected a 6-2 record on the mound in 2002 with 99 strikeouts and only 20 walks in 52 innings ... Has a combined 21-8 record in high school ... Compiled an 11-2 mark with 110 strikeouts and 20 walks in 90 innings for the summer Findlay Legion team ... Has a 3.1 GPA ... Plays for Coach Jack Foltz at Findlay High School.

Mahan on Hahn: "We had a huge need for left-handed pitching, and Spencer helps fill that void. We think Spencer is one of the best pitchers in the Midwest. He can step in and contribute right away as a freshman."

Kovac led Mundelein High to a fourth-place state finish and was selected to the all-tournament team ... Hit 14 home runs along with 66 RBI and a 13-2 pitching record in high school ... Named to the All-Lake County first team as a junior ... A Chicago Tribune All-State selection ... Has a 3.0 GPA ... Plays for Coach Todd Parola at Mundelein High School.

Mahan on Kovac: "Kovac is both a pitcher and an infielder and comes from a successful high school program in Mundelein, Ill. He led his team to the Final Four of the Illinois State Tournament and is an impact player. He's a two-way player, which makes him that more valuable to us. He was a highly recruited player and we're very happy he chose Michigan State."

TROY KRIDER (Infielder, 6'0", 175, Auburn, Ind./DeKalb High School)

Krider was a first-team all-league selection as a junior after hitting .476 with three homers, 24 RBI and 15 stolen bases ...Led his team to a 24-7 record his junior year of high school ... Member of the Fort Wayne Dox summer team that was an NABF World Series participant ... Batted .406 with 16 stolen bases and 39 RBI in summer league ... Member of the Honor Roll ... Plays for Coach Chris Rhodes at DeKalb High School.

Mahan on Krider: "Troy really filled our needs because he is a left-handed hitting infielder. We believe he is one of the top infielders in the Midwest. He has a good arm and excellent range as a shortstop. We think Troy will fit in nicely and contribute early in his career at MSU."

KRIS MORRIS (Catcher, 6'0", 185, Jenison, Mich./Jenison High School)

Morris was a first-team all-region and all-district selection his junior year as he led his team to a 33-3 record ... Batted .418 with five home runs and 40 RBI in 2002 ... A member of the Grand Rapids Elite summer team posted a 39-7 record and played in the Connie Mack World Series in Farmington, N.M ... Has a 3.7 GPA ... Plays for Coach Gary Cook at Jenison High School.

Mahan on Morris: "Our staff feels that Kris is the best catching prospect in the state of Michigan. He's from one of the most successful programs in the state at Jenison High School. We've had a number of student-athletes from Jenison in our program over the years and they've all turned out to be solid ballplayers. We're confident that Kris will do the same. He's also a very solid student with a 3.7 GPA."